Our View

The Lancaster County School District’s recent Celebration of Excellence honored 258 students and 24 retirees and featured the induction of three new members into the LCSD’s Education Hall of Fame.
The trio included Atlee Brown, W.C. Lewis and Charlene McGriff. All three were dedicated servants to the district for a number of years.

Lancaster County employees have a “new boss” today. It’s Brooklyn Springs Elementary School first-grader Nathan Gibson.
Nathan will spend the day with Lancaster County Administrator Steve Willis, after winning the grand prize in “The Veteran in Your Life” essay contest. Nathan, a student in Rena Cunningham’s class, chose to write about his “big brother,” U.S. Army medic Dwayne “Big Mac” Mackey.

When the annual July Fourth celebrations roll around this summer, a central figure will be missing.
Harold Williams, who played the part of “Uncle Sam” in the Charlesboro and Heath Springs parades, died earlier this month.
“Uncle Sam” is a common national personification of the U.S. government, which was originally used during the War of 1812. The figure is depicted as a stern, elderly man with white hair and a goatee beard. Typically, he is dressed in clothing that features elements of the U.S. flag.

Bill Ardrey’s work and dedication have been deservedly rewarded. Ardrey, commissioner for the Lancaster Soil and Water Conservation District, was honored earlier this year as the S.C. Association of Conservation District’s 2010 Outstanding Commissioner of the Year.

Conservation districts are asked annually to nominate a commissioner for supporting the local-state federation conservation partnership in their county and for promoting conservation within the county.

Surely we all know whom we celebrate today. But just in case you’ve somehow missed it – it’s Mother’s Day.
It’s a day set aside to honor and pay tribute to the one who brought us into the world and tried to keep us on the right track. She’s known as mommy, mom, mother and mama. You may have even given her a nickname.
She deserves all the recognition she can get. She’s always been there for you. She’s been your confidant, protector and mentor.

He appeared invincible. The ruthless mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2011, terrorist attacks that killed 3,000 Americans eluded capture for almost 10 years. But that changed on May 1, 2011, when U.S. Navy SEALS killed Osama bin Laden in a compound in Pakistan.
On Sunday, shouts of joys and cheer rang out across the nation as President Barack Obama made the late-night announcement. But social media actually upstaged President Obama as Twitter sent out the first death notices.

Gen. Larry Platt and Cotton Cole share similar views on a much-controversial fashion statement: they don’t like baggy pants.
Platt became an instant celebrity when he performed “Pants on the ground,” for “American Idol” judges last year. Cole, a Lancaster County council member, wants council to create a countywide ban on baggy pants.
The beginning lyrics of Platt’s song goes, “Pants on the ground, Pants on the ground, Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground.”

Administrators, teachers and students at three county high schools have every reason to be proud these days.
The S.C. Department of Education recently awarded Palmetto Awards to a trio of Lancaster County high schools.
The awards, which have been presented for 10 years, honor schools that attain high levels on their report card’s absolute performance and growth ratings and substantial progress in closing the achievement gap between groups of students.

Easter is really about hope – hope for ourselves, each other and the future. That pretty much sums up what Easter means to Christians worldwide.
The parallel between Easter and hope is obvious. For followers of Jesus Christ, it was a hopeless period when their tortured leader drew his last breath on a crude cross and his body placed in a tomb. Some hid in fear as they mourned his death. There must have been doubt. Was Jesus’ message real? What’s next?

Prom season is upon us, with one prom already over and three more to go in the next few weeks.
Buford High School held its Phantom’s Masquerade-themed prom April 2 at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster’s Bradley Arts and Science Building.
On April 30, Indian Land and Lancaster high schools will hold their proms. Indian Land’s Arabian Nights-themed event will be at the South Charlotte Banquet Center. Lancaster’s Moonlight Oasis-themed event will be at York Tech’s Baxter Hood Center.